The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, may be set to reclaim his position at the helm of the state, judging by recent happenings on the political stage.
Naijaonpoint recalls that President Bola Tinubu had in March, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspended the Governor and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, as well as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, over the political turmoil which enveloped the oil-rich state.
He also appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state.
It is understood that the turmoil stemmed from a political disagreement between Fubara and his predecessor in office, who is now the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
However, months after the suspension, President Tinubu on Thursday, 26th June, brokered a peace deal between Wike and Fubara.
Barely two days after the peace deal, Fubara, Wike, and the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule, made their first public appearance together.
The trio were at the burial of Wike’s Uncle in Rumuepirikom, the hometown of the FCT Minister in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Saturday.
Wike, Fubara and Martin Amaewhule
Similarly, videos that have gone viral on social media showed that both Fubara and Wike travelled in the same vehicle on Saturday while heading for the burial programme.
Also, a video clip shared by Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, showed Governor Fubara at the residence of the FCT Minister, in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
Governor Fubara also directly addressed his supporters on Saturday, assuring them that a good fight has been fought and the time to embrace peace has come, regardless of how hurt anyone feels about the entire episode.
He expressed that both he and Wike have been hurt, but they have decided to put the interest of the people of Rivers State first.
With the developments, the hatchets appear to have been buried between the warring parties in Rivers State, and the ball is now firmly in the court of President Tinubu, who has the power to lift the suspension, even as Nigerians continue to clamour for the return of full democracy to Rivers State.